Raizel's voice faded into silence, leaving only the haunting echo of his torment to fill the oppressive air of Hell. Zephyros stood frozen, the weight of Raizel's past pressing down on him. He had never imagined the sheer agony the Demon God endured. Guilt flickered across Zephyros's face, his usually confident expression crumbling.
"Ignis," Zephyros whispered, voice trembling slightly, "perhaps… perhaps we should stop this. Can't you see—"
"Stop?" Ignis laughed harshly, flames sparking in his furious eyes. "You believe his lies, Zephyros? He's manipulating us! He's nothing but a monster!"
Raizel chuckled darkly, the sound slicing through Ignis's bravado like a sharpened blade. "Finally, Ignis, something we agree on. But you're mistaken about one thing—I'm far worse than any monster you've ever imagined."
Without warning, Ignis burst forward in a blaze of fury, flames roaring from his fists as he hurled himself toward Raizel. The Demon God met the assault with a sinister smile, effortlessly deflecting Ignis's fiery barrage with a casual wave of his hand. Hell itself seemed to quake beneath the raw power of their clash.
Ignis refused to relent, roaring with rage as his body erupted into a blazing inferno, transforming into a fiery elemental giant. His form towered over Raizel, flames crackling and scorching the ground beneath him.
"Is that your true form, Ignis? Good, show me how desperate you are before I extinguish you," Raizel taunted, eyes glowing crimson.
Raizel charged forward, shadows wrapping around him, materializing into massive demonic wings and claws. He met Ignis's colossal flames head-on, their violent collision sending shockwaves across Hell. The two titans clashed relentlessly, the very fabric of reality trembling under their brutal battle.
Ignis, pushing his limits, unleashed an infernal blaze so intense that it momentarily overwhelmed Raizel, scorching through his defenses. Raizel stumbled back, smoke rising from seared flesh. Ignis, sensing victory, lunged again with overwhelming power.
But Raizel's laughter sliced through Ignis's triumph, chilling him to his molten core.
"You think pain stops me?" Raizel's voice was an eerie whisper filled with raw malice. "Let me show you what real suffering feels like!"
Raizel's aura surged, his demonic form shifting into a terrifying embodiment of darkness and fire combined, shadowy flames licking hungrily around him. In a flash, he closed the gap, striking Ignis with unimaginable force. Ignis screamed as Raizel's shadow flames pierced and ravaged his fiery body, draining the life from him.
Zephyros watched, paralyzed with fear and awe, unable to intervene. The intensity of Raizel's vengeance left him shaking uncontrollably.
Ignis collapsed, flames flickering weakly around his defeated form. Raizel slowly approached, eyes merciless.
"P-please…" Ignis gasped weakly, begging as Raizel loomed above him.
"Begging already?" Raizel mused mockingly. "I haven't even begun."
With ruthless precision, Raizel plunged his claw into Ignis's chest, tearing the god's head from his shoulders in a spray of molten blood. Holding the severed head aloft, Raizel turned slowly toward Zephyros.
Zephyros recoiled instinctively. "I-I won't fight you. I swear, Raizel, I understand now. Let me join you—"
"Join me?" Raizel laughed bitterly. "You gods disgust me. I don't trust a single word from your lying lips. But I'll spare you—only so you can tell every single one of your pathetic gods that I'm coming for them. Let them live in fear of my vengeance."
Zephyros could only nod weakly, eyes wide with terror.
Back at Astralis Academy, chaos erupted as Raizel casually strode onto the campus grounds, Ignis's severed head dangling from his grip. Students screamed, scattering wildly as the Headmaster emerged, face pale with shock.
"What have you done?!" The Headmaster demanded, horrified.
Before Raizel could respond, Zephyros stepped forward, trembling. "Ignis… he started it. He attacked Raizel first. It was self-defense!"
Lucien appeared suddenly beside Zephyros, golden eyes calm but sharp. "I witnessed it as well, Headmaster. Raizel defended himself. Ignis's fate was his own doing."
The Headmaster hesitated, torn between disbelief and dread, before reluctantly accepting their words. "Very well. I'll… handle the situation. Return to your quarters. Now."
As the crowd dispersed, Dante and Orion approached cautiously, eyes wide with shock and awe.
"Master! You truly are unstoppable!" Orion exclaimed reverently.
"Raizel…" Dante hesitated, uncertainty flickering across his face. "Are you alright?"
Raizel met their concerned gazes with a reassuring yet sinister smirk. "Never better."
Later, in the shadows of Raizel's chambers, Lucien appeared quietly, leaning casually against the wall.
"You've hidden yourself well, Raizel," Lucien murmured calmly. "None of the new gods remember what happened, except me. I made sure of it."
Raizel eyed Lucien suspiciously. "And why would you help me?"
Lucien smiled enigmatically. "We have similar goals, perhaps. Or maybe I'm just curious to see how your vendetta unfolds. Either way, consider it a temporary alliance."
Unnoticed, Orion lingered in the corridor, breath hitching at the overheard revelation. His world spun with confusion and dread.
Suddenly, from within the darkness, a voice whispered ominously, "You were right to kill Ignis. But the one who ordered Isabella's betrayal... he's here at the Academy."
Raizel's eyes widened, bloodlust flaring with renewed intensity. "Who is it? Tell me now."
But the voice faded into a haunting laugh, leaving Raizel alone with chilling silence, vengeance burning brighter than ever in his heart.